Key case



April 15, 1952 R. w. HOLMGREN KEY CASE Filed Dec. 29, 1949 Ragnar W Holmgren INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 15, 1952 A UNITED y 1 ammo .v v f E A E. Itannt W, Holgngren, Elint/; Miphig Application December29, 1949, Seriz'rl No',-,1;.3,5;'10

4 Claims, (01. ma-456i I i This invention relatesto a keycase and a primary objectof the invention is to provide a key case adapted" to hold 'apluralityof keys in retracted positionwithin the key case, whileallowing single keys to be extended in operative position. v

" Another object ofthisinventionisto-provide-.

, been's-wung out of -the retracted positions; the

other keys being pressed-backinto the case in orderthatthe selected key may befreely-used.

Stillanother object of this inventionis 'to provide akeycase adapted tobe'made to conform with-the-general-shape of a key and thus tohold a considerable number of keys without being unduly bulkyi a Yetanotherobjectofthis-invention is to provide a key case inwhich the keys are definitely held in a predeterminedarrangement thus facilitating; the selection: of: the: particular key? to be used at any time.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a keycase in which keys may be reasonably easily inserted, and which-will positively prevent thelossof-a key from the key case? And a last-object to bementioned specifically is to provide a key case which is relativelyineX- p s ve d practicable tqimanui a which is safe, simple and'convenientto use, and which will give generally efficientand durable, service.

' With these objects definitely inJview, thisinvention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrating in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of the assembled device;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 in Figure 1; 4

Figure 3 is another longitudinal view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the device, the viewpoint being on the opposite side from the viewpoint used in Figure 1;. and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 in Figure 2 and looking in the direction .of the arrows.

' eral plate 2: Similar characters of reference design-ate similar or identical elements andportions throughout the specification and; throughout the different views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawingsin detaihthe key case includes a body member, generally indicated-at l0, comprising a back-|-2and a pair of opposed spaced parallellateral plates- I4 and--l6 which may beintegral with the back I 2;. All-surfaces in" this; member HF are provided with rounded or beveled'edges and the plates M and- 1 6 are exactly similai in shape and the: general shape of each maybe described as conforming to the longitudinal cross-sectional shapeof an egg This egg-shape ortear-drop shapeenables keys of the type illustrated; in the drawing; to be conveniently held inthekey case. The

back 12- does not; extend the full lengthot the member H the back stopping short, asindicated at l8, at one end of the device, and the plate It is-provided--with a non-circular bore- 01' socket 20- nearthe said one endof the device. Another bore 22" ordinarily smaller than and aligned with the bore 20is provided in the lateralplate It, this bore 22- having; an; enlarged portion 24; so that a shoulder is formedbetween the two portions of this herein the plate I4; 6

A push pin 26 extends throughtheboreS- 22' and 24 and=has-a-n enlargedterminal '28 of a sizeand dimension to fitwithinthe here or; socket 20 for axial movement therein; A threaded" bore 30 provided in the-=other end-portionof the push pin 26 and an-elongated -threaded element- 32 comprises a shank for a push button head 34, thi shank being screwed into the threaded bore 30 and the head-extending exteriorly of the lat-i I4. A helical spring is coaxially mounted on the push pin 26 and compressed by the push button head 34 within the enlarged portion 24 of bore 22, so that the push pin 26 is biased toward the outer face of the lateral plate [4. y

This lateral plate [4 may also be recessed as indicated at 38 and suitable decorative indicia or the owner's initials or the like may be applied to the plate in the recessed portion 38. Finally, a washer 40 may be threaded on the push pin 26 to abut the terminal '28. A plurality of keys 42 will also be threaded on the pin 26 when the key case is in use.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the above recited objects and the disclosure in' the drawing. In recapitulation, it may be noted that the spring 36 biases the push pin 26 in a direction to cause the washer 40 to bear against the adjacent key 42. The keys are all pushed toward the plate l4 and are held releasably within the case until such time as the push button head 34 is pressed, whereupon the keys may fall by gravity or may be swung out into the position of the key illustrated at the left in Figures 1 and 2. The key in this position is used in the ordinary manner and may easily be retracted into the case when it shall have served its purpose.

The specific utility of the non-circular bore 20 and correspondingly shaped terminal 28 is especially noteworthy. This construction prevent rotation of the pin 28 relative to the plate I6 while allowing longitudinal movement of the pin so that the pressure of the spring 36 can be pre-adjusted as desired and sothat the pin can be shifted axially during the use of the device to release the keys. The same construction also facilitates the original assembly of the key case and the replacement of keys when necessary.

It is clear that all the objects are amply achieved by this invention and further descrip-- tion would appear unnecessary.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A case for keys including a body member generally U-shaped in cross-section and having a back and a pair of spaced parallel lateral plates, a push pin slidably and transversely mounted on said member and extending through one of said plates, a push button head on said pin and disposed outside said one plate, means to bias the pin axially toward said one plate, means on said pin adjacent the other plate for laterally engaging a key, whereby keys on said pin are releasably jammed between said means and said one plate.

2. A case for keys including a body member generally U-shaped in cross-section and having a back and a pair of spaced parallel lateral plates, a push pin slidably and transversely mounted on said member and extending through one of said plates, a push button head on said pin and disposed outside said one plate, means to bias the pin axially towardsaid one plate, means on said pin adjacent the other plate for laterally engaging a key, whereby keys on said pin are releasably jammed between said means and said one plate, said means including an enlarged terminal and a washer engaged by said terminal.

3. A case for keys including a body member generally U-shaped in cross-section and having a back and a pair of paced parallel lateral plates, a push pin slidably and transversely mounted on said member and extending through one of said plates, a push button head on said pin and disposed outside said one plate, means to bias the pin axially toward said one plate, means on said pin adjacent the other plate for laterally engaging a key, whereby keys on said pin are releasably jammed between said means and said one plate, said means including an enlarged terminal of non-circular shape and a washer engaged by said terminal, said other plate having a similarly shaped socket to receive said terminal, said push button head having a threaded shank screwed into said pin, the socket retaining said pin from rotation while allowing axial movement of the pin and adjustment of spring pressure and facilitating assembly of the key case.

4. A case for keys including a body member generally U-shaped in cross-section and having a back and a pair of spaced parallel lateral plates, a push pin slidably and transversely mounted on said member and extending through one of said plates, a push button head on said pin and disposed outside said one plate, means to bias the pin axially toward said one plate, means on said pin adjacent the other plate for laterally engaging a key, whereby keys on said pin are releasably jammed between said means and said one'plate, said means including an enlarged terminal of non-circular shape and a washer engagedby said terminal, said other plate having a similarly shaped socket to receive said terminal, said push button head having a threaded shank screwed into said pin, the socket retaining said pin from rotation to facilitate adjustment of said head in said pin, said means to bias comprising a spring compressed between said push button head and said one plate.

RAGNAR W. HOIMGREN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

